Indian River County notebook: Vero Beach's girls soccer team closing on record unbeaten start

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Vero Beach girls soccer team has a chance to set a record for most wins to open a season when the Fighting Indians travel to Spruce Creek on Friday.

Vero Beach tied the record by improving to 11-0 with a win over Viera on Tuesday.

The Indians tied Spruce Creek 2-2 last year.

"Hopefully, we can ride this wave a little while longer and set some new school records," coach Jose Gibert said.

Gibert is pleased with some of the Indians' accomplishments thus far, pointing to notable wins over traditional powers Merritt Island (Class 3A regional finalist last year) and West Boca Raton (a nationally ranked team last year), as well as against Class 4A regional semifinalist Viera.

"Those were three games we looked at during the beginning of the season as a barometer for our season," Gibert said. "Those were big tests for us."

The Indians have been successful despite their youth because of "complementary styles of play," according to Gibert.

Vero Beach has talent across the field, including three National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region players in senior Kat McClain and sophomores Alana Hockenhull and Ashley Calcagno.

Calcagno was named an NSCAA All-American on Monday — one of only two players from Florida recognized for the honor. She has 10 goals and 13 assists and was a first-team All-Area selection as a freshman after finishing last season with four goals and 25 assists.

RIVALRY GAME

The rivalry between the Vero Beach and Sebastian River boys soccer teams has been one-sided in favor of the Sharks for the past few years, but with both teams off to strong starts this season, Fighting Indians coach Chris Fonehouse is expecting a closer competition.

The teams meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sebastian River for the first of two matchups this season.

Sebastian River outscored Vero Beach 19-3 in the six previous meetings over the past three seasons. The Indians last earned a win over the Sharks on Jan. 9, 2009, a season in which Sebastian River finished 13-4-2 and Vero Beach was 14-6-2.

"It's been a drought the last few years trying to beat them," Fonehouse said. "The boys have that marked on their schedule, and that will be another big test."

The Indians enter the game 5-1-3, coming off a tie at Martin County, while Sebastian River is 4-0-2 after tying Viera on Nov. 30.

FACA RECOGNITION

St. Edward's sophomore volleyball player Brett Harper was named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State team for Class 3A, according to coach Jeff Junek.

Harper, an outside hitter, finished the season with 153 kills and 115 digs. The Pirates were 8-11.

"(It's) such a great accomplishment for such a young player," Junek said.

THIS AND THAT

Jon Stovall's first season as St. Edward's girls basketball coach is off to a rough start, but the Pirates picked up their first win in their eighth game Tuesday night. Nicole Alden (19) and Sophia Castraberti (11) combined for 30 of the team's 44 points in the victory over Pine School. St. Edward's has just seven players on its roster and no junior varsity team. … The Master's Academy four varsity winter sports teams are 10-13 combined, but things are looking up for the girls soccer and boys basketball teams. The Patriots are 6-3 in girls soccer, and the boys basketball team has won two straight after dropping its first two games.